Naples History
Although the tranquil waters of the Gulf of Mexico off the Naples coast are now dotted with colorful sailboats and regal yachts, they were once the waterways for pirates' galleons, tall-masted schooners, and cargo-laden steamers.

In 1877, Hamilton Disston, a wealthy businessman from Philadelphia who has been credited with saving the entire state of Florida from bankruptcy, purchased a tremendous amount of Florida land at a rousing 25 cents per acre. This historic purchase included 200 miles running south on the Gulf Coast to Marco Island. Disston planned to capitalize on the growing interest in Florida as a health resort and a mecca for sportsmen by selling the land. Although large parcels were bought and developed in other parts of the state, Naples had very few takers at the going rate of $10 per lot, and the area remained a pristine wilderness.

In 1886, a small group of influential Kentuckians seeking winter homes in a warm climate arrived in Naples. They bought 8,700 acres of Disston's land and organized the Naples Town Improvement Company. The new town was carefully planned on paper, surveyed, and platted. Thus began Naples transformation from frontier to civilization, and the town's fathers still carry out meticulous planning today.

After visiting the property he owned on nearby Useppa Island, multimillionaire Barron Gift Collier fell deeply in love with the beauty of the Naples area and became a driving force in its development. In 1922, he purchased more than a million acres that would become Collier County, including much of what is now Everglades National Park. Collier knew what progress would come to Naples only if there were roads to the area. If the State would not build the much needed highway, he would do it himself. At a cost of more than $1 million, he succeeded in the ultimate construction of the Tamiami Trail (now US 41) across the murk and mire of the Everglades to connect Tampa to Miami. The gargantuan task was completed in 1928, and in return for his generosity and perseverance, Collier County was named in his honor. Today, it is difficult to imagine that less than a century ago, Naples was still a tiny fishing village accessible only by boat or a shell road from Ft. Myers.

In 1926, train service came to Naples. The railroad served the community in many ways, not the least of which was the nightly entertainment of watching it pull in at the station, hoping to catch a close-up glimpse of some notable visitor. The original Spanish style station, refurbished and converted into a cultural center, still stands at Fifth Avenue South and 10th Street.

A peaceful make-your-own-fun kind of life continued until World War II brought another major change. The U.S. Government built Naples Air Field specifically as a training field for combat gunners. Barracks, outbuildings, and runways dotted the landscape, and target practice was held over the Gulf of Mexico.

Just before noon on September 10, 1960, Hurricane Donna, the strongest storm in Florida's recorded history, roared into Naples and wreaked her tempestuous havoc until dusk. By the following morning, it was discouragingly clear that major cleanup and rebuilding would be the order of the day for many months to come. Oddly enough, Donna provided not only the impetus, but the money, to create the stunningly beautiful Naples we know today. Insurance adjusters calculated Donna's tantrum at $20 million in prices that are over 40 years old and when the city had a population of a rousing 8,400. An infusion of insurance money and low cost loans from the Small Business Administration, coupled with the determination of the city's residents, soon saw Naples being rebuilt. Most important of all, the destruction presented the town fathers with a perfect opportunity to design and execute a master plan for the city.

Although the Naples of today bears little resemblance to the rugged site carved out by her pioneers, a century has not altered her perfect climate or her beauty. Her aquamarine waters still shimmer, and her beaches are still carpeted with exquisite seashells.

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Naples Today
Southwest Florida's most sophisticated city, Naples combines an easy-going ambience with luxurious surroundings. Ten miles of alabaster beaches provide the perfect setting for world-class resorts, exclusive golf communities, and beachfront condos. An eclectic blend of old and new, the city boasts a historic downtown and shopping district that rivals Palm Beach and Beverly Hills. Yet the lure of Naples has always been its spectacular natural setting. The city preserves much of its shoreline as public beach accesses and parks, and thousands of acres of pristine wetlands east of town have been set aside so that future generations may experience the natural wonder of Florida.

Shopping could easily occupy days of a vacation in Naples. The prestigious 5th Avenue South and 3rd Street South shopping areas are to Naples what Rodeo Drive is to Beverly Hills. Located downtown in the historic district, this glitzy collection of jewelers, boutiques, and art galleries invite unmatched window-shopping. Also in Olde Naples, the Tin City showcases 50 shops selling everything from resort wear to statuary. For a more familiar mall setting, Coastland Center stretches nearly a mile from end to end and features most of the familiar national chains. The Village at Venetian Bay, a mall with a Mediterranean flair, evokes images of its namesake with 50 canal-front markets.

Its miles of powdery white sand beaches draw most of the vacationers who flock to Naples each year. From Barefoot Beach in North Naples to the Municipal Pier just south of downtown, six beachfront parks and numerous beach accesses line the shore. In the city itself, nearly every east-west street that intersects Gulfshore Blvd ends at a public beach access. Several of the beachfront parks feature large preserves, allowing the visitor a glimpse of Southwest Florida as it existed centuries ago. These unspoiled stretches of seashore provide a haven for both wildlife and the human soul alike.

Another great destination for children is the Teddy Bear Museum of Naples. One of Naples most unusual attractions, the museum is stuffed with bears of all sizes and ages. There are over 3,000 teddy bears in all.

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